The 2026 Nice Classification: What Changed in Edition 13

Under the information notice published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) on 14 November 2025, the Nice Classification will apply with its new amendments as of 1 January 2026. The 13th edition of the Nice Classification will thereby enter into force.

The Goods That Move

According to the WIPO information notice:

• “terpenes [essential oils]” in Class 3 -> Class 1 as “terpenes”,
• “spectacles/eyeglasses” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “spectacles/eyeglasses”,
• “spectacle lenses” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “spectacle lenses”,
• “spectacle frames” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “spectacle frames”,
• “eyeglass chains” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “eyeglass chains”,
• “eyeglass cords” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “eyeglass cords”,
• “eyewear for correcting colour vision deficiency” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “eyewear for correcting colour vision deficiency”,
• “spectacle cases” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “spectacle cases”,
• “contact lenses” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “contact lenses”,
• “containers for contact lenses” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “containers for contact lenses”,
• “containers for contact lenses with ultrasonic cleaning function” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “containers for contact lenses with ultrasonic cleaning function”,
• “correcting lenses [optics]” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “correcting lenses”,
• “sunglasses” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “sunglasses”,
• “sunglasses for pets” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “sunglasses for pets”,
• “anti-glare glasses” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “anti-glare glasses”,
• “nose clips” in Class 9 -> Class 10 as “nose clips”,
• “fire engines” in Class 9 -> Class 12 as “fire engines”,
• “fire boats” in Class 9 -> Class 12 as “fire boats”,
• “life saving rafts” in Class 9 -> Class 12 as “life saving rafts”,
• “lifeboats” in Class 9 -> Class 12 as “lifeboats”,
• “evacuation chairs” in Class 9 -> Class 12 as “evacuation chairs”,
• “surf skis” in Class 28 -> Class 12 as “surf skis”,
• “watering hose” in Class 21 -> Class 17 as “watering hose”,
• “tongue scrapers” in Class 10 -> Class 21 as “tongue scrapers”,
• “clothing, electrically heated” in Class 11 -> Class 25 as “clothing, electrically heated”,
• “socks, electrically heated” in Class 11 -> Class 25 as “socks, electrically heated”,
• “foot muffs, electrically heated” in Class 11 -> Class 25 as “foot muffs, electrically heated or not electrically heated”,
• “butter cream” in Class 29 -> Class 30 as “butter cream [cream]”

will be transferred.

Assessment

What interested me most was the departure of eyewear goods from Class 9. With the previous, 12th edition of the Nice Classification, artificial intelligence robots were also added to Class 9, and the class had in effect moved away from spectacles and lenses to become one defined by its technological frame. Spectacles and lenses were left almost “alone” in Class 9 in recent years.

On another current development affecting filing strategy: A Critical Period for UK Trademark Registrations.

In the same way, I observe that the goods transferred to Class 12 sit more comfortably with that class’s own purpose and coherence.

On revocation proceedings in Türkiye: Administrative Trademark Revocation: Where Things Stand.

Source

For the WIPO information notice of 14 November 2025, which gives the most accurate classification of the list in its original language:

https://www.wipo.int/documents/d/madrid-system/information-notices-en-2025-madrid_2025_37_e.pdf